How JustAnswer Works:

Experts are full of valuable knowledge and are ready to help with any question. Credentials confirmed by a Fortune 500 verification firm.

Get a Professional Answer

Via email, text message, or notification as you wait on our site.Ask follow up questions if you need to.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Rate the answer you receive.

Ask proexpert37 Your Own Question

proexpert37, Educator/Life Coach

Category: Parenting

Satisfied Customers: 1374

Experience: Teacher 20+ years, Parent, Expert Mentor

49595756

Type Your Parenting Question Here...

proexpert37 is online now

My family is going through a divorce. We were married for 15

Resolved Question:

My family is going through a divorce. We were married for 15 years and have been separated for just over 2 months. We have 3 children together ages 16, 12, and 8. I have been reading various material regarding how to best get along for the children and make this an easier transition for them. I am having a hard time determining if some of my actions are the best for the children or if I am acting out of anger toward my former spouse. He has a new girlfriend in his life since about 2 weeks after we separated. It has been a source of argument between him and the children. Some of their arguments have escalated into screaming matches and became physical. We have had some very good, calm discussion regarding what is best for our children, came to an agreement and then he would do the opposite of what he said. I feel like I can't trust him with them. Or rather that they are just going to be hurt when they are with him. It seems every time they come back from his house they are upset. I don't ask them questions about what happens and when they tell me things I ask them how they feel about it and then encourage them to tell their father how they feel. I have my parents watch the children after school and we have established a routine and the children seem to enjoy it. Their father called last night and wanted them to come to his house for a few hours after school. I didn't want to interrupt the routine that we have just established and told him he could spend time with them when we go to the soccer game tonight. He became angry and said that I was not thinking of the kids. I know that the children need time with their father and I do want to encourage it but I don't agree with him wanting to change it at the last minute. I also want to be careful to not let my opinions of him and his lifestyle interfere with decisions regarding the children. I guess my question is that given that every thing we have decided on the kids he has gone back on and has told me lies is it the right thing to do to keep my parenting time on a schedule and routine?

I think it would be best if you and your children seek some professional counseling from an outside neutral source . If you have health insurance, contact them and they will be able to guide you in the right direction. Seeking professional help from a regular counselor, psychologist, or even from a church counselor will enable you and your children to express their feelings and receive coping skills to deal with such a difficult issue. For the mean time, if you and your (ex) husband can work out an agreement in an amicable way regarding when your children can visit without upsetting their lives and schedules, then do the best that you can for now. When you are going through the divorce process, a visitation schedule may be established for the minor children under a court order. Try not to let your personal feelings about the girlfriend be known to your children. Just keep on letting your children know that you and their father love them but can no longer agree on certain things and have decided to be apart. What is best for the children is of the utmost importance now...and your (ex)husband must realize and accept that fact. Actually bringing a new girlfriend into the picture now does not benefit anyone. She is only filling the void of your (ex) husband not having a family anymore. I hope that this has shed some light on the issue. Please do take care. Please accept so that I may be paid for my efforts. Thank you and have a great day.

This expert is wonderful. They truly know what they are talking about, and they actually care about you. They really helped put my nerves at ease. Thank you so much!!!!AlexLos Angeles, CA

Thank you for all your help. It is nice to know that this service is here for people like myself, who need answers fast and are not sure who to consult.GPHesperia, CA

I couldn't be more satisfied! This is the site I will always come to when I need a second opinion.JustinKernersville, NC

Just let me say that this encounter has been entirely professional and most helpful. I liked that I could ask additional questions and get answered in a very short turn around. EstherWoodstock, NY

Thank you so much for taking your time and knowledge to support my concerns. Not only did you answer my questions, you even took it a step further with replying with more pertinent information I needed to know. RobinElkton, Maryland

He answered my question promptly and gave me accurate, detailed information. If all of your experts are half as good, you have a great thing going here.DianeDallas, TX

Ask a Parenting Counselor

Get a Professional Answer. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.

125 Parenting Counselors are Online Now

Type Your Parenting Question Here...

characters left:

Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.